The Portland daily press., 1887-07-06
THE FOURTH.
Its Celebration in Portland and
Vicinity.
The loration by Seth c. Larrabee in
City Hall.

OuhhdS Ah6Hb nao Ate AOVoc
and continued without intermission until
after the morning salute, when the noise
died away to rise in an increased volume at
noon and again at night
The usual tolling Of the bells at sunrise,
noon and sunset, and probably the firing Of
the salutes occurred. The shipping in the
harbor was dressed with flags, the French
ship Bouyet especially presenting fine ap-
pearance, and the public buildings and
many private dwellings displayed their
bunting
The fantastic parade drew many spec
tators. The prizes were awarded as follows
Darktown Fire Brigade, S25; Barnum's Cir
Gus, $50; PoliceiPatrel Wagon, SIS; Queen
Victoria, $40; Indian Chief, 50. Fantastic
parades don't seem to amount to much in
this vicinity.
The exercises in City Hall were carried
out according to programme. Chandler's
Band played patriotic airs delightfully."-. The
double quartetts-Mrs Fellows, Mrs. Young,
Mrs. Goudy, Miss Rice, Messrs. Thurston,
Stockbridee, Merrill and Shaw-sang grand
ly, Mayor Chapman presided gracefully,
Or. Hill made very effective prayer, Mr..
Winthrop Pitt Tryon read the Declaration
with dignity and emphasis, eliciting most
enthusiastic applause. and Mr.. Seth G. Lar
rabee delivered the Grafton. which displayed
marked ability, with admirable effect. The
following was the oration:
Fifty-si gentlemen assembled in convention
at Philadelphia more than a century ago.
They represented thirteen widely scattered and
sparsely settled colonies which were depen-
denotes Of the British crown. These colonies
comprised between two and three millions Of
people, who had endured the hardships attend.
ant upon the settlement and partirl develop
ment of new country, who for many years
had carried on an almost constant war for
existence with native and foreign enemies, who
were smarting under the wrongs and oppres-
sion Of their rulers, and who had even been
compelled TO defend with arms the rights due
them as subjects, from the attack of the a. mics
of their own sovereiLI.
Twice before the representatives Of the same
people had met at the same place. They had
prepared addresses to the King and to the
people of Great Britain; addresses which in
strength of argument and logic of conclusion
had excited the admiration Of British states
men, one Of the great st Of whom had been
moved to say to the II use of Lords, that for
"solidity Of reasoning, force Of sagacity and
wisdom of conclusion. nation or body OF
men can stand II preference TO the general
Congress of Philadelphia" !" but which beyond
the empty reward of compliment upon their
rhetoric, had brought no retuil, and accom-
plished little toward remedying or alley .atng
the ey IS their authors sought TO abate.
The peoples loyalty had been taxed beyond
endurance. A spirit OF revolution was abroad
in the land. 1t had its votaries in evely town
4 4 L 4 a. a
assemblies and many of them had declared for
Independence. Congress had thus far acted
entirely upon the defensive, and although il
had raised a. mics and put the country n a
state Of general defence, its only pui pose was
that of maintain * the rights of British sub
jects against a tyrant king. 1t had sued for
peace. 1t only asked the rights Of freeborn
subjects. Its petitions had been ignored.
The breach between ne colonies and the
mother country had widened until it was as
broad as the oeee1 that 70 ed between them.
The kings armiCs were now IN the field. They
had been met by the minute men Of Massachu-
setts. Blood had been shed in New England
for civil rights. The crisis was at hend. Con-
gress was to speak the word that would tuna
the faces of the people toward the gathering
shadows of submission and the approaching
night Of seryitude. or toward he MOI 1ing light
of independence and freedom.
After careful deliberation snd discussion in
which each man spoke the speech that was
nearest to the hearts of the people in the colony
he represented, and after en opposition had
been si'enced by ars smcnt and reason, the
peoples representatives affirmed the principles
upon which they believed true government
must lest to be endur *, recited the wrongs
which they had rfered under the King, de-
clared the united colonies free and Independent
States, called upon their Creator to witness
the sincerity of the act and appealed to a
candid world TO justify their course. Such
was the b til Of the nation, the recurrence of
whose natal day the people celebrate.
Well may we withdraw lit e from the
noise and din Of celebration, the general license
Of which attests the universe, regard for this
day and its memories, TO give a passing
thought to the men whose acts have made il
memorable. Life was as sweet, fortr1e as
dear and honor as sacred to the men who pre-
pared pronounced and signed the immortal
declaration as life, fortune and honor are
sweet end dear end sacred to us. Young in
years, their lives were before them; none OF
them were poor in worldly goods; many were
men of wealth and fortune. They realized
the hazard and danger of revolt and rebellion.
They l1ew that il the cause Of independence
was not achieved, and that against odds, the
conhscation Of their fortunes would follow.
and the right Of inheritence to their children
would be forever denied. They knew the
severity Of the punisf nent for treason, and
Doctor Frank'in wei expressed their thought
when he said that they must all hflg together,
or they world surely f'l hang separately
nevertheless a the hore of their tri and OF
the peoples need, they considered not their
persona safety nor the quiet enjoyment of their
property and fortunes, but pledged their lives,
| their fortunes rid their sacred honor to the
support Of the principles which they had de-
clared. And in the struggle which ensued,
they gave their lives, they spent their fortunes
| they preserved their honor lustrous, bright
| and splendid as the cause they won.
Joy and pleasure are greater to'owing pain
and soi row; regard and reverence are greater
and grander when born of sacrifice 6ld
martyrdCm. To lem be honor, praise and
reverence. To us come inspiration to meet OF
| trials with a bolder front, TO discharge our
| duties with more sincerity and courage. Re-
| gardlng their example, we may initiate theil
zee,, their patriotism and their sacrifice. Ae-
cording not rat serv''e imitation and regard
| that fashion madly gives to things that are old
because they are old for that is ephemeral and
meaningless but rather that wholesome
| sympathy. regard and admiration that spring
| from apprecietive hearts and admir- minds
The historic mansion in which the dis
tinguished Hancock, the fac smile Of Whose
autograph is familiar to every school boy ir
the land, lived and died, was preserved
intacI, and the rooms therein were un.
| disturbed for more than sevent,
years after his decease, in so grea
regard were held the material things which I'll,
great statesman had gathered around him ant
which did him service Little by little the de.
mands and impor,dnities of modern busines,
and enterprise had encroached upon the sur.
rounding estate; at last the old honse and al
its belongings went down under the hammer o
the auctioneer to the highest bidder; moderr
vandalism had done its work.
How insecure are material monuments. II,
| forces Of nature combine for their destruction
In the faculties Of the mind, memory is III,
only conservator. In the path of progress
and improvement they go down before its re
sistless march. There remain to-day few ma.
terial memorials Of the men who were the au.
thors of the Declaration Of independence
their houses have gone to decay, their accumu
laton and fortunes have been dissipated ant
lost. Time has obliterated their signature
from the parchment that yielded to their touch
| The customs and manners which were their
are no longer the customs Of the land. Histo
ry has preserved what Of them was worth pre-
serving, and their deeds are told in story an,
verse, but their greatest memorial which vii